Angled Endoscopic Tool with Universal Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic instruments face limitations when trying to remove tissue located laterally to the access channel, as they either have a large bending radius, making the tool lie outside the endoscopic optics, or require flexible drive shafts that can only transmit small torques, making them unsuitable for removing hard tissue like bone material.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic instrument with a rigid hollow shank and a tool at the distal end that can be angled with respect to the shank, allowing it to be guided through a straight endoscope channel and positioned laterally for tissue removal, featuring a universal joint for torque transmission and a movable head part for angulation, enabling the tool to remain within the endoscope's field of view and handle hard tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hollow shank is curved with a large bending radius to reach lateral tissue, then the tool can access tissue laterally of the access channel, but the tool lies outside the endoscopic optics and requires additional optical means
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into segments: a straight hollow shank that passes through the endoscope, a universal joint mechanism, and an angled tool portion. This segmentation allows the tool to be positioned laterally while the main shaft remains within the optical field, resolving the contradiction between lateral access and visual observation.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal joint acts as an intermediary between the straight hollow shank and the angled tool. This intermediary mechanism enables the tool to achieve lateral positioning while maintaining the straight configuration of the main shaft, allowing both lateral tissue access and endoscopic visualization.
2Ease of operation
If a flexible drive shaft is used to transmit rotation to the tool, then the instrument can be led through a straight channel, but only small torques at low rotation speeds can be transmitted making it unsuitable for hard tissue removal
Solution Approach 1:
The drive transmission is segmented into a flexible drive shaft portion for navigation and a rigid tool portion for torque transmission. The universal joint connects these segments, allowing the flexible shaft to navigate the straight channel while the rigid tool portion receives and transmits high torques for hard tissue removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal joint serves as an intermediary that decouples the navigation function (performed by the flexible drive shaft) from the torque transmission function (performed by the rigid tool). This allows the instrument to be guided through straight channels while maintaining high torque transmission capability for bone and hard tissue removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tool is angled with respect to the distal end of the hollow shank, then the tool can remove lateral tissue while remaining within the endoscopic field of view, but the mechanism for angulation adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is made dynamically angleable with respect to the hollow shank through the universal joint mechanism. This dynamic configuration allows the tool to be positioned at different angles for accessing lateral tissue while remaining within the endoscopic field of view, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-configuration instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal joint mechanism provides multi-functionality by enabling both angular positioning of the tool and transmission of rotational torque. This single mechanism accomplishes multiple functions (angulation and drive transmission) that would otherwise require separate components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining tool positioning capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and effective removal of tissue and hard materials, such as bone, by allowing the tool to be angled and maintaining high torque transmission even at large rotation speeds, while remaining within the endoscope's optical field, thus overcoming previous limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a universal joint (18) is provided for actively connecting the tool (8) to the drive shaft (14), also in this position
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic instrument includes a rigid hollow shank (2) and a tool (8) at the distal instrument end. The tool (8) is driven in rotation via a drive shaft (14), which is guided within the hollow shank (2). At the distal end of the hollow shank (2), the tool (8) projects out of the hollow shank (2), where it may be angled with respect to the distal end of the hollow shank (2).